Straus hires former presidential adviser for re-election campaign

Texas House Speaker Joe Straus has hired a former presidential adviser and a prominent horse racing lobbyist to help him win re-election to his San Antonio district and then as speaker when the 2011 Legislature convenes.

Straus said he is hiring Karen Hughes, a former media adviser to former President George W. Bush, to help him in his re-election. Hughes was Bush’s press secretary when he was governor and then was communications director when he was president.

Straus also is brining on board Austin lobbyist Gordon Johnson, who has been one of the key horse racing lobbyists in Austin. Straus is a part owner of Retama Downs in San Antonio.

“Karen Hughes is one of the leading communications experts in the country and her years of service in Texas and national government have given her deep knowledge of public policy issues,” Straus said in a statement. “Gordon has been a close friend for 25 years and I have great respect for his sound judgment and in-depth knowledge of the legislative process.”

Straus said Johnson has de-registered as a lobbyist to work on his re-election campaign.